Read Online Tempting Love - Haley & Eddie by Melanie Shawn - Free Book Online
Authors: Melanie Shawn
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like having a mom?”
Eddie listened, showing absolutely no reaction at all. After a few moments, he spoke calmly. “What do you tell her?”
Haley let out a breath she hadn’t even been aware she’d been holding. Maybe this conversation wouldn’t go south after all.
Shrugging, Haley said, “The truth. That I knew of her but didn’t really know her. That she always seemed to be having a good time, like she was a fun person. As far as what it was like having a mom, well, I guess I do downplay that. I just don’t want to upset Em or make her feel like she’s missing out on something.”
Eddie’s expression hardened and his jaw tensed. Haley felt the air swoosh out of her lungs as her stomach dropped down to the ground. Maybe this little talk would end up with Eddie getting upset after all. She might have been counting her this-is-going-to-be-fine chickens before they hatched.
“But she is. Missing out on something.” Eddie’s voice sounded tortured, and he took another swig of beer.
Haley’s heart twisted in her chest. “You are an amazing dad. Em is so lucky to have you.”
“But no matter what, I’m not her mom.” Eddie shook his head. “I can never fill that role.”
“Look, I was lucky enough to have both my parents, but look at my cousins. They grew up with Uncle Bob and they are fine.”
“Jury’s still out on that,” Eddie said flatly.
Haley smiled. She knew this was tough for him, but relief washed over her that he was at least joking around a little bit.
“And they were boys,” Eddie pointed out. “Boys are different.”
No kidding .
“Em has Chelle, me, my mom, and sisters. The list goes on and on with how many people adore and love that little girl.”
Eddie nodded, and Haley did feel like he was at least trying to take in what she was saying. Looking back across the yard and into the dark night, Eddie got a faraway look on his face.
Haley wasn’t sure what he was thinking about and she kind of wanted-slash-needed to find out the answer to the question that had brought this entire subject up, which was what she was supposed to say when Emily asked her about it. But she had always had a gift of reading the room, and this was not the time for her follow-up question.
She would give him a few quiet moments, let him sit with it. Then, for Emily, she would ask. Again.
* * *
Eddie knew that as Emily grew older he’d have to face the fact that she’d have questions. It was only natural. He just couldn’t believe how grown up she was.
When Em was a baby, during the crying, the sleepless nights, the teething, the terrible twos, he’d honestly thought that those would be the hardest times with her. That once she was able to do things on her own, be more independent, talk, and tell him what she needed, it would get easier. But the truth was, the time when she was an infant had been the easy part. Yes, it had been exhausting and draining, but he’d been able to protect her, take care of her. He’d had complete control.
Now, he felt like things were quickly spiraling out of control. She wanted to go to sleepovers, wear makeup, get a bra. And the scariest want of all—to find out about her mother.
Eddie knew he needed to stop trying to avoid and prolong the inevitable. Facing all of this head-on was truly the only thing to do. But for once, he knew he couldn’t do it alone.
Turning back to Haley, he was momentarily sidetracked when he saw that she had propped her legs up on the chair sitting opposite her. Eddie’s hungry gaze traveled from her delicate ankles that were crossed one over the other, up to her slender, sun-kissed calves, to her sexy, toned thighs. Her dress cut off his sensual visual journey mid-thigh.
Damn . Eddie’s hands itched to run up under her dress. Every fiber of his being was burning with a primal need to touch her. A vision flashed in his mind’s eye of her straddling his lap, her dress bunched up at her waist, his hands roaming beneath it, touching
Eddie listened, showing absolutely no reaction at all. After a few moments, he spoke calmly. “What do you tell her?”
Haley let out a breath she hadn’t even been aware she’d been holding. Maybe this conversation wouldn’t go south after all.
Shrugging, Haley said, “The truth. That I knew of her but didn’t really know her. That she always seemed to be having a good time, like she was a fun person. As far as what it was like having a mom, well, I guess I do downplay that. I just don’t want to upset Em or make her feel like she’s missing out on something.”
Eddie’s expression hardened and his jaw tensed. Haley felt the air swoosh out of her lungs as her stomach dropped down to the ground. Maybe this little talk would end up with Eddie getting upset after all. She might have been counting her this-is-going-to-be-fine chickens before they hatched.
“But she is. Missing out on something.” Eddie’s voice sounded tortured, and he took another swig of beer.
Haley’s heart twisted in her chest. “You are an amazing dad. Em is so lucky to have you.”
“But no matter what, I’m not her mom.” Eddie shook his head. “I can never fill that role.”
“Look, I was lucky enough to have both my parents, but look at my cousins. They grew up with Uncle Bob and they are fine.”
“Jury’s still out on that,” Eddie said flatly.
Haley smiled. She knew this was tough for him, but relief washed over her that he was at least joking around a little bit.
“And they were boys,” Eddie pointed out. “Boys are different.”
No kidding .
“Em has Chelle, me, my mom, and sisters. The list goes on and on with how many people adore and love that little girl.”
Eddie nodded, and Haley did feel like he was at least trying to take in what she was saying. Looking back across the yard and into the dark night, Eddie got a faraway look on his face.
Haley wasn’t sure what he was thinking about and she kind of wanted-slash-needed to find out the answer to the question that had brought this entire subject up, which was what she was supposed to say when Emily asked her about it. But she had always had a gift of reading the room, and this was not the time for her follow-up question.
She would give him a few quiet moments, let him sit with it. Then, for Emily, she would ask. Again.
* * *
Eddie knew that as Emily grew older he’d have to face the fact that she’d have questions. It was only natural. He just couldn’t believe how grown up she was.
When Em was a baby, during the crying, the sleepless nights, the teething, the terrible twos, he’d honestly thought that those would be the hardest times with her. That once she was able to do things on her own, be more independent, talk, and tell him what she needed, it would get easier. But the truth was, the time when she was an infant had been the easy part. Yes, it had been exhausting and draining, but he’d been able to protect her, take care of her. He’d had complete control.
Now, he felt like things were quickly spiraling out of control. She wanted to go to sleepovers, wear makeup, get a bra. And the scariest want of all—to find out about her mother.
Eddie knew he needed to stop trying to avoid and prolong the inevitable. Facing all of this head-on was truly the only thing to do. But for once, he knew he couldn’t do it alone.
Turning back to Haley, he was momentarily sidetracked when he saw that she had propped her legs up on the chair sitting opposite her. Eddie’s hungry gaze traveled from her delicate ankles that were crossed one over the other, up to her slender, sun-kissed calves, to her sexy, toned thighs. Her dress cut off his sensual visual journey mid-thigh.
Damn . Eddie’s hands itched to run up under her dress. Every fiber of his being was burning with a primal need to touch her. A vision flashed in his mind’s eye of her straddling his lap, her dress bunched up at her waist, his hands roaming beneath it, touching
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